News at St. Catherine's
Rev. Gale Hodkinson Cooper ’63
In her retirement from St. John’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte, N.C., Cooper volunteers as a Coastal Crisis Chaplain in Charleston, S.C. Cooper ministers to first responders and provides comfort to citizens on the scene of a crisis, such as school tragedy, fatal traffic accident, suicide, or homicide, as well as in the aftermath of such crises.
Rev. Gale Hodkinson Cooper ’63
Retired is a peculiar way to define the current scenario for the Rev. Gale Hodkinson Cooper ’63. In her retirement from St. John’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte, N.C., Cooper is on call 24/7. As a volunteer Coastal Crisis Chaplain in Charleston, S.C., Cooper ministers to first responders and provides comfort to citizens on the scene of a crisis, such as school tragedy, fatal traffic accident, suicide, or homicide, as well as in the aftermath of such crises.
“Elliott [my husband] and I moved to Charleston 5 1/2 years ago,” says Cooper. “I really did think I would be retired; and that was a bit sad, because I love to work. Lo and behold! — our God is a God of wonderful surprises.”
The Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy has established itself as one of the best programs of its kind in the country. The organization responds to regular requests for training to establish similar programs elsewhere and to respond to natural disasters such as the devastating October flooding in S.C. that left many citizens and first responders traumatized. The website for the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy states that it serves more than 30 local, state and federal government agencies, primarily helping first responders both on and off scene, allowing them to thrive personally and professionally amid continuously challenging circumstances.
All Chaplains are ordained ministers and must meet rigid requirements for selection and training in the program. They assist the Coroner in notifying individuals who have lost a family
member in an unexpected manner, assist the Mobile Crisis Unit and SWAT teams in hostage negotiations and other local emergency situations; and to provide follow-up visitations in the home or in the hospital for victims of crimes and their families. The Survivor Follow Up program helps connect survivors to long term care, an element that can be overlooked once the floodwaters have receded or the embers cool.
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Serving with our police, fire and rescue personnel is an honor,” Cooper attests. “They are angels. Truly, they are. We encounter some of the worst heartaches daily, but we also are so very privileged to see and feel the power of love to heal.”
Serving with our police, fire and rescue personnel is an honor,” Cooper attests. “They are angels. Truly, they are. We encounter some of the worst heartaches daily, but we also are so very privileged to see and feel the power of love to heal.”
Located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia, St. Catherine’s School is a private, all-girls pre-K, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school. We provide a well-rounded educational experience for girls from communities across Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and all of central Virginia. St.Catherine’s all-girls educational experience is rooted in more than a century of history and tradition. From our revolutionary past to our dynamic present, St. Catherine’s has always focused on preparing students for a boundless future.
